The Biker's Doctor

Chapter Eleven

"I can drive. My car is outside." I spoke.

I was not at all willing to accept the idea of being driven home by a stranger in a patrol car or having my poor aunt Elenora come here to collect me.

I went from being an independent student to having nowhere to stay in just one night. It wasn't like me, and I didn't want to rely on Elenora for more than I had to right now. I was perfectly fine calling her to let her know I was coming over. I would have even been content to stay at a hotel, but I wanted Lucifer, so that option was gone, leaving my aunt as my only alternative.

Detective Jones shot his gaze back down at me and ran his hand through his hair impatiently—a move I didn't understand. My refusal to let a patrol car drive me to my aunts was a notion that seemed to upset him, making him impatient with me as well. The feeling that this situation doesn't seem right is intensifying, becoming increasingly uncomfortable.

"So much has happened tonight.” Detective Jones pushed, “You must be exhausted. It is probably not a good idea for you to drive. I can have an officer escort you." He insisted yet again, lifting his phone.

"I will be fine." I said with more defiant strength than I meant to.

That was it. I was done. I stood up, refusing to let him make the offer again. I want to be out of this station and heading to Elenora’s now. Lucifer, I plan to pick him after I get her consent in the morning. I suppose I can talk to the Detective again, then to let him know I need things from my apartment.

Detective Jones still seemed reluctant to the solution that I offered. I didn't make a single word of acceptance towards his proposed escort to where I was staying tonight, or how I was going to get there. It was none of his business how I got to my aunt’s. It’s not like I was being chased by the man at my apartment. How would that man, Johnny, know where I was going? I would be safe at my aunt’s, and then I can come straight back here tomorrow and give more information. In fact, I feel like I have not even given a proper statement at this point. After giving more details, I can get Lucifer and continue to stay at my aunt’s until whatever they need to do at my apartment is over, and I can return there. I’m not looking forward to the commute I will need to take to get back and forth from the city to the campus, but it will only need to be until I have my final exam. Then I can hopefully sit down and properly process what I saw tonight. Unfortunately, if I want to pass my final exam, I think I will have to try to block all of this out.

"Very well. And then tomorrow, well, later today, I guess I should say," he smiled, looking at his watch and the fact we were in a new day, and it was the earliest hours. "We will get a further statement from you about what happened earlier."

The door shut again. I looked at the one-way glass mirror. I could feel eyes watching me, and I didn’t like the personal invasion. Were they the Detectives? Why did he not want to hear about the man who had murdered Brian? I tried to find a reason for my discontent, which was, frankly, not being allowed to provide more information than I thought necessary.

Wait, I suddenly thought. They must have already had the suspect in custody. He was not a suspect, I corrected myself. He was a murderer.

I saw him in the car garage of the apartment complex behind me. The patrol car was dispatched nearly as soon as I had arrived here, a mere five-minute drive away if not less. Yes, perhaps they had already apprehended the black-haired source of evil. Yes, that must be the case. They did not need my help at all. I tried to feel a sense of calm at that proposed new thought. But it simply didn't come.

I stepped closer to the room's door, took my mobile phone out of the bulky saddlebag, and dialled my aunt’s home phone number. I figured I should call her to tell her I was on the way right now from Menlo Park, before I went back into the louder spaces of the station.

I knew the time. I was about to wake her up, and I doubt she would be pleased about that.

"Avery…" a half-awake voice answered the phone. "Do you know what time it is?" Aunt Elenora asked tiredly.

"I am at the police station.” I did not see the point in pleasantries. “Something horrible has happened, Elenora." I choked back a tear. "I need to stay at your place for a few days, if that is alright?"

"What has happened?" She said, with an abrupt change in her voice from waking up to one of concern and worry.

The sound of familial regard washed through the phone like a warm blanket. I know that we did not get along terribly well. But that is the least important thing right now. I was at a police station, and I could tell that my aunt would drop anything to help me. The sense of family and what one would do for them was limitless to both of us. Soon, I will be with her. I think I might just fall into her arms and cry. I can’t believe I am looking forward to that, but I am. I could really use a hug right now.

There was no traffic at this late hour, so the time it would normally take me to reach Elenora’s place in Pacific Heights would be cut in half. Soon, I would be in my room at her house, which I occasionally used as a sleepover spot, and in the comfort of her mansion to gather my thoughts. I think a warm chocolate with peppermint would be perfect to help me settle my mind before I go to bed.

Talking to Aunt Elenora about how I feel in the station right now would be a good thing, the second that I have the chance to tell her about what has happened. She was the most intelligent woman I know, and I look up to that attribute. With her experience, she can lend some insight into how the Detective acted during this interrogation, which has me still feeling like so much has not been done that should have been done urgently.

I opened the door, not wanting to remain in this ‘interrogation room’ for one more minute. Detective Jones was standing right outside, on his phone. He handed me off towards Alicia with such cold speed that I could not help but look at him with astonishment at his undiminished lack of care for the situation. Alicia led me back to the station's front entrance so I could leave. Her hand was gently placed on my lower back to guide me.

"You poor thing. You have had a rough night. After a good night’s sleep, everything will feel much better." Alicia said with the same warm tone that comforted me when I first arrived at the station, but without the same effect.

I did not know how tomorrow would be better, as she now insisted. When I come to terms with what has occurred tonight, I’m very sure I will actually feel much worse. This was not something that someone could easily get over. I plan to immerse myself in my studies as a complete distraction.

Well, maybe not my studies straight away. I will skip the revision lectures scheduled for tomorrow. I want to reach Lucifer as soon as possible. Nothing can give me as much comfort as the love of that dog and just being around him. I want to spend the next twenty-four or more hours sleeping and not thinking about anything right now. Then I will study. I could not afford to take more time than that before exams. I hope all of this will not affect my revision.

I thought about asking Alicia why she had reacted the way she did when I gave Brian’s last name as Stone. But why bother? That would delay my intent to get out of here, so I left the question, biting my tongue.

I turned over my shoulder to say goodbye to Alicia and saw Detective Jones nod to me, but then walk out the side door of the station. That was odd. I knew that it was late, and he probably wanted to go home, but someone was dead. There had been a murder. That surely didn't require an officer to work regular hours. It was not my place to ask why he was acting the way he was. I was too tired to continue speculating about it, so I don’t know why I kept running my mind over him and my judgment that he lacked any personal decorum in this case.

I said goodnight to Alicia, thanking her for her help. I at least felt like she had helped me, if she was the only one who had. I left the door to the station with the swing door flying shut behind me. The car park was devoid of any movement. I made my way towards my Porsche, where I had habitually parked it in the furthest car spot from the entrance.

I took in the crisp outside air, wrapping my arms around my shoulders. The outside temperature did precisely what I wanted it to. Wake me hell up with a frosty hug. The brisk temperature would help keep me alert while driving. I will keep my car windows down to keep that air on my skin and keep myself wide awake.

I was going to go to my aunt's, and I bet she had a million questions about why I was at a police station. I was not looking forward to repeating the story I had just given the police tonight. I am so tired. I will likely break down and cry. But I will have to tell her everything. I rummaged through my saddlebag, grabbing my car keys. I had almost reached my car when I heard a shuffle of several people behind me who were standing outside the side back entrance of the station, in a narrow alleyway.

"She saw me." Were words just close enough for me to hear, and I recognised the voice.

The same grim voice that said 'hello' on Brian's phone...